Problem Install with New Fusion System

[ethanbarnett]

We had an old fusion700 series and are replacing it with an RA 770. Evidently when the original was installed the head unit was wired to the nmea backbone with a now no longer supported nmea type cable. The xm radio cord is not attached to anything. Well that existing cable is not accessible as it resides behind a bulkhead. The fusion tech says I am too disconnect that inaccessible cord from some tee head and replace it with a newly supplied 3’ cord which is how it is now done. I laughed at the guy. Really wanted to cry. So what is the solution?

1. Run a fn cable up and over and down and battle with the backbone thingy?
2. Add a separate xm radio receiver and then do what to integrate it with the boat?

The install guy was even shocked at how this appears to be set up.

Wow. Or is it that we are just not seeing something here?

 

[ethanbarnett]

Update. After a lot of swearing at invisible gremlins all named Murphy I finally located that holy grail of nmea connections ziptied in a very very challenging space. I was able to unzip it so to speak and pulled it slowly toward me. Whomever installed this old system did not believe in wasting an extra inch of cable. Damn short sighted and unkind. Fingers crossed.

 

[BB marine]

I was told by Garmin the install was incorrect. Mostly because the Fusion was used to power the backbone. Garmin representative told me the NRX feature was not made to support NEMA 2K. I did add the Yellow 3' power cord to the backbone to power it and turned the NRX feature off. I can still operate the radio thru the chart Plotter but the N2K is powered by the 12V fuse panel.

All electrical installations are done before cabin trunk is installed to the hull. Common practice in boat building. All cables runs are done with the thought if it reaches it is long enough. Common practice in boat building. When making repairs or replacing electrical or plumbing components in boats the DIY or marine technicians rate how well the boat is built and designed for repairs. Many rate poorly !!! With Fluid Motion being a smaller player in the industry they have the ability to listen to their customers and make changes.

Having owned a Cutwater for 5 years and cruised to several different waterways ( a fraction of most ranger and Cutwater owners ) Between boat cards, docktails, emails, PM's I have heard a repetitive comment. Electrical, Pumping, access is very difficult! The Labor cost for repair is high. I wish they would have left a few more inches of hose, water line, wire, so I or the technician could get to, troubleshoot, remove, replace and repair the component. I'm not sure Fluid Motion is getting the message. I know they hear us. I know they stride to produce a good product. Training and education is the key to better production and Quality Control. I'm sure they know that!

I hear your pain, many of us have been there and done that. Good luck with your repair Ethan.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Electrical, Pumping, access is very difficult! The Labor cost for repair is high.

I would say that so far this is the single biggest surprise for me coming from a lifetime as a sailor to the "dark side." Good cruising sailboats tend to have systems that are easy or at worst can be a minor pain to access, but you can definitely access all of them. I was surprised by how much on the ranger is glassed in! Nothing on my last sailboat wasn't accessible and removable -- at one point or another I removed each of the water tanks and the fuel tank -- and the things that required regular access were relatively easy to get at.

 

[Scuba Too]

Just a note that anyone with a CB version can readily access part of the NMEA backbone up there. On my R29-CB the main backbone is located behind a bulkhead under the throttle - very challenging to access there. I added the power cable due to a swap out of the Fusion radio - same basic model but the old one had failed. The new model couldn't keep up with powering the autopilots hence the need.

 

[BB marine]

I added the power cable due to a swap out of the Fusion radio - same basic model but the old one had failed. The new model couldn't keep up with powering the autopilots hence the need.

The failure in my case was due to the NRX use to power the N2k. When I talked to Garmin rep. He asked what all was attached to the Backbone. He calculated the amount of power required and said it was to much. The NRX was not designed to be used this way. It was designed to be a power source for remote fusion radio controls only. He advised installing the yellow power cable to power the backbone. My fusion radio failed ( to late) I was able to replace with like kind. No issues since and no autopilot issues now.

 

[FWTMD]

Accessibility is going to be an issue with all smaller boats.

When you get above 30 ft and certainly by 35, the larger boats make accessibility a selling feature. I was wandering in the website of one trawler model that had a whole promo video on that topic alone.

Sales staffs will repeat the mantra that sales are all about price and "features". Maybe that's right. But experienced owners have additional priorities when they understand what it takes to maintain the boat. Accessibility is a much desired feature. Everyone wants their boat to be well-maintained. If you can't get to something, you are not going to maintain it regularly.